Chapter 8: The Divine Image of Fu Xi

  "This strand of true body imprint left by the master is called the Fuxi divine image, containing many profound mysteries of the master's understanding of the Heavenly Way. If you constantly contemplate and experience it, not only will your spirit and soul become stronger, but it will also be beneficial for understanding the Heavenly Way. Most importantly, with this strand of true body imprint, you can cultivate the Supreme Cultivation Technique - 'The Zhou Tian Xing Lüe Body Refining Technique'!"

  Before Chen Tai could ask, Ji Yu seemed to have already seen through his thoughts and slowly said: "In the ancient times, people all thought that my master had observed the River Chart and deduced the mysteries of the heavenly cycles, only then did he suddenly enlighten to the Great Way and reach the peak. However, no one knew that before observing the River Chart, my master's body inside and out had already reached a state of transcendence and sainthood, his physical refinement techniques were enough to establish the foundation for the Daoist canon and create an eternal legacy."

  "Unfortunately, the master left in a hurry and only left behind a copy of 'The Heavenly Body Refining Technique'."

  Having said that, Ji Yu's expression turned solemn and silent, as if he was immersed in endless memories, sighing without a word.

  Chen Xiao silently pondered the information revealed in Ji Yu's words, his emotions surging, and he even forgot to speak. After a long time, he asked: "Senior, I once heard someone say that there is a River Chart rubbing hidden inside this cave, I don't know if it's true or false?"

  Ji Yu was taken aback, his eyes fixed intently on Chen Tai, his voice strange as he said: "Until now you still don't understand? That one strand of true body imprint is what the master left behind after contemplating the River Chart and understanding the heavenly mechanism. It has always contained a thread of the River Chart's true meaning. Now that you have obtained the true body imprint, it's equivalent to obtaining a thread of the River Chart's true meaning. What's the point of thinking about expanding the original?"

  Chen Xiao suddenly realized that the River Chart's true meaning was actually hidden in the true body of the cave master, not in the rumors and legends that had been passed down.

  Fortunately, I accidentally got it, and who knows, maybe one day I'll get the real Hetu with this.

  "Alright, I've told you everything that I can. Do you have any other questions?" Ji Yu nodded his dragon head, with a rather friendly attitude, apparently considering Chen Tai to be a qualified disciple worthy of inheriting his master's legacy.

  "I..." Chen Xiao opened his mouth, but found that there were still too many doubts he wanted to ask, and for a moment, he didn't know which one to ask first.

  "You're currently too weak, and your body is frail. I think you should first practice the 'Zhou Tian Xing Lüe Cultivation Technique' until your physical and energy cultivation reach the Purple Mansion realm. Then, when you come back, you should be able to pass the first trial of the Heavenly Peak and receive the corresponding reward. As for other things, thinking too much is useless."

  Chen Xiao was taken aback and said: "But I still don't know where the 'Zhou Tian Xing Lie Zhuan Ti Zhi Shu' is, how can I cultivate it?"

  Ji Yu said nonchalantly: "When you leave, I will naturally pass it on to you. Are there any other questions? If not, then I'll impart the formula to you and see you off."

  "Go ahead and take your time."

  Chen Xuan hastily called out: "You just said that by passing through the first trial of Tianfeng, one will receive corresponding rewards. I wonder what's the catch?"

  Ji Yu shook his head and said, "I'm just the spirit of the cave, how would I know these things? However, I do know that after you pass through the first trial ground, cultivating in the cave for three days will only make one day pass outside. It's extremely beneficial to your cultivation."

  Manipulating time transformations?

  Chen Xiao inhaled a mouthful of cold air, his heart shocked beyond measure. This kind of move was almost against the heavens!

  Think about it, in the cave for three days of cultivation, outside only one day has passed, isn't that two more days of cultivation than others? If you stay here every day, wouldn't that...

  Chen Yu thought, the more excited he became in his heart, and even a little afraid that he couldn't bear this surprise. He is now only at the Three Realms of Innate, living in Songyancheng since childhood, how would he know that there would be such a heaven-defying method in the world, which can manipulate time?

  "If you can pass the second trial of Tianfeng, staying here for nine days is equivalent to one day in the outside world. Passing the third trial will extend it to 81 days, and so on, until after passing the 18th trial, you can cultivate freely here, because for the outside world, time has become absolutely solidified."

  Ji Yu seemed to have not noticed Chen Tai's thoughts were already a jumble of distractions, and continued to speak eloquently: "However, don't get too excited just yet, the first trial grounds of Tian Feng aren't that easy to pass through. With your current cultivation level, going in would be no different from seeking death. It's better to focus on improving your own cultivation, diligent practice is what you need to do most right now."

  Chen Xiao quickly calmed down. Yes, after passing the first trial ground, one needs to bring their physical and spiritual cultivation to the Purple Mansion realm. Then, what kind of cultivation is needed to pass the second trial? And so on, until the third, fourth... all the way to the eighteenth trial, can it be passed that easily?

  There must be a return for every effort. If one doesn't work hard and cultivate oneself, but only thinks of relying on external things, how can they become a true strong person?

  Desires and distracting thoughts stir up demonic obstacles in the mind. If one is always thinking of taking shortcuts, it's likely that they will never be able to embark on the path to enlightenment in this lifetime!

  At this point, Chen Quan thoroughly woke up from the inexplicable excitement and shock, his whole body was covered in cold sweat. When he looked up at Ji Yu, he found that this horned creature-like cave spirit was staring at him with a pair of eyes that had experienced many vicissitudes, as if it could see through all his thoughts, and he couldn't help but feel ashamed.

  "The master once said that only with a clear and determined mind can one comprehend what ordinary people cannot, and reach the end of the Great Way. Chen Tang, do not disappoint the master's expectations."

  Ji Yu suddenly stepped on the cloud and rose, looking up at the sky with a loud roar, his voice like rolling thunder, rumbling and exploding between heaven and earth. And with a flick of its single horn, it pointed at Chen Tai, a flash of colorful light burst out and pierced into Chen Tai's body, disappearing without a trace.

  Chen Tang suddenly felt a blackness in front of his eyes, and the next moment, he found himself already standing in his own room.

  "What my mother said is really true, now I not only got the recognition of the Ling of the Cave Mansion, but also obtained a True Body Imprint left by the Master of the Cave Mansion, and indirectly got a hint of the truth of the River Chart. As long as I work hard to cultivate, I will definitely become stronger!"

  Looking at everything familiar in the room, Chen Xiao couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

  After some thought, he came to the Sea of Recognition again, looking at the statue of Fu Xi that emitted an ancient and vast aura, and his heart couldn't help but let out another exclamation.

  Observing the River Chart and expanding on the cyclical principles of Heaven's machinery, then ascending to the pinnacle of the Great Way, could it be that this senior is named Fu Xi? What level has his cultivation reached?

  After a long, silent gaze, Chen Tai stretched out his hand to grab the floating five-colored light in front of him. This cluster of light was left by Qi Yu, the spirit of the cave, before he left, and it should be the supreme body-refining technique left by the master of the cave - "The Heavenly Body Refining Technique"!

  Wow!

  As soon as the fingertips touched, the colorful halo instantly transformed into countless flying stars. Upon closer inspection, those twinkling stars were found to be composed of ancient seal script characters the size of a palm, resplendent with brocade and radiant with a soft glow, as if filled with lively spirits, fluttering and dancing about, full of wonder and delight.

  "Condense!"

  A faint, ethereal voice suddenly echoed within the vast expanse, with just a few words, yet it carried an aura of majesty that seemed to command the world, inspiring involuntary reverence and admiration.

  Before distinguishing the source of the sound, those fluttering and swaying strings of brocade characters suddenly lined up in rows, neatly gathered into a page of text, with each word radiating billions of shimmering rays of light!

  Chen Xiao raised his eyes and looked over, only to feel a buzzing sound in his mind, row after row of mysterious and unpredictable characters pouring into his mind like flowing water, unable to be shaken off, as if branded.

  "Indeed, it's Zhou Tianxing's Body Tempering Technique, a unique and special body refining method!"

  Chen Xiao hastily scanned through it, and his heart was filled with endless shock. He summoned the evil energy condensed from the stars in the sky to temper his flesh and blood body. Is there really such a cultivation technique in this world?

  In Songyan City, compared to Qi Refiners, the status of Body Refiners is extremely low. Generally, those who choose the path of Body Refining are some impoverished and downtrodden individuals, tempering their bodies solely for the purpose of finding a job to make a living, such as workers in quarries or porters in warehouses, with no difference from laborers doing hard physical work.

  The reason lies in the fact that the path of physical cultivation is too difficult and painful, and the conditions for advancing are so harsh that they have reached an outrageous level. Although the path of refining one's energy requires extremely high qualifications, as long as one diligently cultivates and practices after birth, it is much easier to walk this path than the path of physical cultivation. Naturally, those who walk the path of physical cultivation become increasingly rare.

  What's more important is that even if the qualifications are poor, as long as they take the path of refining their energy, in Songyancheng they can completely get a relaxed and dignified job, such as a spiritual farmer who plants spiritual fields and medicines, a breeder who raises spiritual birds and beasts, a spiritual chef who cooks delicious dishes, and some apprentices in workshops and shops that make talismans, refine instruments, and refine elixirs. Whether it's treatment, status, or income, they are much better than the physical repairmen.

  Chen Tang has lived in the slums of Songyan City since he was a child, and often sees many Ti Xiu people working as laborers. He is very familiar with the living conditions of these Ti Xiu, which is why he has never considered this path for himself.

  However, after witnessing "Zhou Tianxing's Refining Body Technique", Chen Tang thoroughly changed his mind.

  Think about it, the master of Dongfu's Lingji Yu, Fuxi, had already reached the point of opening up the Daoist canon and laying the foundation for all eternity with just his physical refinement techniques. How could Chen Tai still dare to look down on physical cultivation?

  "From today onwards, apart from cultivating the seal and refining my Qi, I must also cultivate the 'Zhou Tian Xing Lie Jian Ti Zhuan' technique. The time available for me to utilize is becoming increasingly pressing, but as long as it allows me to become stronger, these sacrifices are all worth it."

  Chen Xiao was deep in thought, when suddenly he remembered something. According to Ji Yu's senior, constantly observing and thinking about the true body imprint left by the master of the Dongfu could refine one's divine soul, making it stronger day by day. Most importantly, once the divine soul reached a certain level, one could grasp the truth of the Hetu, and then search for the real location where the Hetu was hidden...

  Thinking of this, Chen Xiao couldn't help but shake his head. Fuxi's predecessor had gained insight into the great way by observing the River Map, but that was because his actual strength had already reached an extremely terrifying level. In contrast, his own cultivation was currently only at the Pre-Heavenly Realm, and even if he were to obtain the River Map now, he probably wouldn't be able to see anything useful from it, which would be harmful without any benefit. His current priority should still be to improve his strength as soon as possible.

  Having thought it through, Chen Xiao felt his whole body filled with energy. Seeing that the sky was already brightening, he no longer wanted to stay in bed. After hastily washing up, he was just about to wake up his younger brother to practice swordplay when he saw that there was no sign of his brother in the room. He couldn't help but be slightly taken aback - where had his brother gone so early?

  As she walked out the door, there was no sign of Chen Huan practicing his sword skills in the courtyard. Chen Tang's heart grew increasingly puzzled. Ever since her brother's right hand had been crippled, he rarely went out, and every time he did go out, he would always greet her beforehand. What happened today?

  Just then, Xixi ran into the yard, saw Chen Tai, and hurriedly waved her small hand, panting and calling out: "Chen Tai brother, Chen Huan is fighting with someone, you'd better go take a look!"

  Chen Xuan's heart tightened, and he asked: "Xiao Xiao, where did you see it?"

  "Ah, Ah, cleverly answered: 'The Tian Xing Sword Technique Academy is where my mother asked me to inform you, my mother has already gone ahead.'"

  ————

  It was already coded a long time ago, but I was locked in a small black room and couldn't come out. There was no automatic update function before modifying the status, so it's a bit late now. Forgive me for that.

  Heavenly Star Swordsmanship Academy?

  Chen Ting's eyebrows furrowed, and a bad premonition rose in her mind.